Angelo Rajcinoski sentenced for police pursuit in Wolli Creek

A young surveyor “panicked and made the wrong impulsive decision” after he was clocked speeding and tried to flee from police before he ran a red light and was thrown off his bike.

A learner trail bike rider was speeding when he tried to flee from police and in doing so ran a red traffic light and collided with a kerb at Wolli Creek, a court has heard.

Angelo Rajcinoski, 21, pleaded guilty to a police pursuit and was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday.

Agreed facts tendered to court state Rajcinoski was riding a trail bike along Marsh St about 11pm on June 7 when officers clocked him travelling 91km/h in a 60km/h zone.

He overtook five cars and police activated their lights and siren in an attempt to stop Rajcinoski.

The surveyor heavily accelerated away from police and turned right into Flora St where he went through a red arrow.

Police estimated Rajcinoski, who lives in Barden Ridge, was travelling 70km/h in a 50km/h zone before he did a U-turn and passed police.

He failed to make a turn and crashed into a kerb on Innesdale Rd where he was thrown from the bike and was injured with a graze to his leg.

Rajcinoski was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court.

Police arrived a short time later and arrested Rajcinoski who began to apologise and repeatedly told officers he made a mistake.

In court, Rajcinoski’s lawyer Samir Karnib said the pursuit only lasted 55 seconds and went for about 900m, adding no one was injured apart from his client.

Mr Karnib said Rajcinoski acknowledged how badly the incident could have been and it had been “a big wake up call”, noting he knew his actions were “stupid and reckless”.

The lawyer said Rajcinoski “simply panicked and made the wrong impulsive decision”.

Rajcinoski was supported in court by his parents, did not have a bad traffic history, completed the traffic offenders program and was “extremely remorseful”.

The court heard Rajcinoski worked as a surveyor while completing a diploma at TAFE and needed his licence to attend sites.

Magistrate Philip Stewart said Rajcinoski put himself, other cars, pedestrians and the police at risk.

Rajcinoski was sentenced to a two-year community correction order, where he must be of good behaviour, ordered to complete 150 hours of community service and was disqualified from driving for 12 months.